"You kid!" Mrs. Guo widened her eyes and didn't know what to say for a long time.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Mom, if Fourth Aunt really likes Shao Jin so much, all my ideas are useless."
Madam Guo sighed, "Why bother... This choice is the most tormenting."
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Mother, it was you who said you wanted to find a good marriage for Shaojin, and it was you who said you wanted to protect Fourth Aunt's dignity. How can I help you to be satisfied?"
Mr. Guo was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and said, "Okay, okay, I said I can't beat you, so let's do what you say!"
Cheng Chi smiled and shook his head, saying, "You are so mean. For so many years, you always use this sentence to get rid of me."
The mother and son were having a great time chatting.
When Gu Qinghe, the ninth master of the Gu family, came back, Cheng Chi had nothing to worry about. Gu Qinghe hosted a vegetarian banquet for Cheng Chi at the Mingxiang Pavilion where he lived. He expressed a lot of gratitude, but was also quite arrogant. He kept talking about how your brother and I had been together. Cheng Chi sneered in his heart and found an excuse to leave before the dishes were served.
Gu Qinghe was so angry that he glared, but when he thought about Cheng Jing's sincere care when he left Beijing, his anger subsided.
Cheng Chi thought about it and decided to go to Gu Jiunie.
Gu Jiuni's wife, Shang, was from Rizhao, Shandong. Her father was Shang Baojian, a big merchant in Shandong. Shang Baojian had saved the life of Gu Jiuni's father, Gu Qingtai, in his early years. Shang Baojian had difficulty in having children. He was over 40 when he had his only daughter, Shang. When Shang Baojian was bedridden, Shang was only nine years old. Shang Baojian was afraid that his daughter would be bullied by the clan, so he entrusted Shang to Gu Qingtai before his death. Seeing that Shang was almost the same age as his third son, Gu Qingtai simply arranged for Shang Baojian to marry his children to him. Shang was married at the age of ten, and Shang Baojian died of illness a month later. Shang was raised by Gu Jiuni's mother and consummated her marriage with Gu Jiuni at the age of seventeen. She was not only dignified and beautiful, but also childhood sweethearts with Gu Jiuni, and they shared the same ideals and had a very good relationship.
When Shang heard that Cheng Chi was coming, she hurriedly asked the maid to take out the Dahongpao that someone gave to Gu Jiunie during the New Year to entertain the guest.
Cheng Chi sat cross-legged on a rosewood Zen chair, smelling the mellow tea aroma, looking at the swaying bamboo outside the window, and sighed: "This is how you live your life!"
Gu Jiuni was tidying up the bookshelf. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "You sound like you're in dire straits. But since you've mentioned it, I'll ask you one more question. What are your plans? You're not young anymore, and you haven't thought about starting a family? Can your aunt just let you do this?"
As he was speaking, Shang came in with two maids carrying food boxes. She smiled and continued, "Uncle, what kind of wife do you want to find? If you still like my sister-in-law, you might as well tell her. I will also pay attention to my uncle and drink a cup of matchmaker tea from him!"
Cheng Chi stood up, first called out "Sixth Sister-in-law" with a smile, and then said: "It won't work in the next two years! You know, I traveled outside in the past few years and owed some debts. If I don't pay back this debt, how can I calm down and start a family? When I want to get married, I will definitely ask my sister-in-law to help me choose a wife."
Shang was respected by her husband and had some face in front of his confidant. She looked a little stern when she heard this and said, "What's the matter? Did you offend a bandit? Can't the government solve it?"
In the past, they had to consider Cheng Jing's reputation and did not dare to use the power of the government, but now Cheng Jing has entered the cabinet. If Cheng Chi leaks the news, there will be people who flatter him to take the lead.
Cheng Chi understood what Shang was referring to and said with a smile, "If it doesn't work out, it won't be too late to look for my eldest brother. Otherwise, he will always think that I am not doing my job properly."
This is a matter between the Cheng brothers, and it is not appropriate for others to ask too much.
Shang cleverly changed the subject and said with a smile, "I heard that you left Uncle Jiu's place before all the dishes were served. I thought you must not have eaten, so I asked someone to bring a few dishes over."
Cheng Chi thanked him repeatedly and asked about the young ladies of the Gu family: "... Old An is gone, I'm afraid the wedding will be delayed."
The Gu family was a wealthy family with many people. The public treasury only gave 300 taels of silver to a girl when she got married. If she wanted to be decent, each family had to make up for it themselves. So it was not easy for a girl from the Gu family to marry.
Shang sighed, "It only delayed the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth aunts... They haven't had time to get married yet, but they are already not young anymore."
Cheng Chi said "Oh" casually, didn't ask any more questions, and started eating in front of Jiunie's coffee table.
Shang retreated with the little maid.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Gu Jiuniu hurriedly moved the book on the coffee table to the side and said, "How could you do this? Be careful not to splash oil on my book."
Cheng Chi snorted, "I don't mind that your books are covered in dust, but you mind that I eat greasy food!"
Gu Jiunie looked back at him with a surprised expression.
Cheng Chi asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you!" Gu Zinie came over with the book in his hand and said, "When I said this to you before, you usually looked cold and dismissive. Why are you arguing with me today? This is not like you normally!"
Cheng Chi was stunned.
Huaishan asked for a meeting.
Cheng Chi let him in.
He saw Gu Jiunie but hesitated to speak.
Gu Jiunie put down the book in his hand and said, "I'm going out, you don't have to look at me like that!"
Huaishan couldn't help but reveal a slight smile in his eyes.
Cheng Chi waited unceremoniously until Gu Jiunie walked out before nodding to Huaishan.
Huaishan took a few steps forward and whispered, "Fourth Master, there's news from the capital that something has happened to Lord Mu, the Censor of the Censorate, who lives in Hu Shangshu Hutong, Chongyifang!"
Cheng Chi's heart stagnated, and he asked in a deep voice: "What happened?"
Huaishan said, "Last September, the master was transferred to the Ministry of Rites. In October, it was reported that someone in the Ministry of Rites leaked the test questions during the Autumn Examination of the Jiawu Imperial Examination. Because the Ministry of Rites was previously the Shangshu of Lord Zhang, the master ordered a thorough investigation of the case. At the end of the year, the master wrote a memorial to the emperor, but the emperor kept it and did not publish it. After the Lantern Festival, all the people who were responsible for the Autumn Examination of the Jiawu Imperial Examination that year were thrown into jail, and this Lord Mu was among them."
Cheng Chi's face was as gloomy as water. He asked, "What position did Lord Mu hold in the Ministry of Rites?"
Huaishan said: "The ceremonial system is in charge of the clean officials."
"The Chief of Ceremonial Affairs is a sixth-rank official, while the Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate is a seventh-rank official."
"So Lord Mu is primarily responsible." Huaishan said, "According to the people in the Ministry of Rites, someone reported it at the beginning, but Lord Zhang considered the seriousness of the matter and quietly suppressed it. However, the relevant personnel were not condoned and were all transferred out of the Ministry of Rites. Their performance in the evaluation that year was 'poor'. Others were transferred horizontally, and only Lord Mu was demoted, so..."
Cheng Chi felt like the north wind was whistling through his heart. He was in a mess and couldn't figure out what was going on for a long time.
Are the Lin and Mu families related to Shao Jin
Did she foresee that something bad would happen to the Mu family
Was Fan Qi entrusted by her or did he get involved in this incident accidentally
If Shao Jin knew nothing, then why did she ask Ji Ying to send Fan Qi to the capital? If all these things were arranged by Shao Jin, then, did she have a purpose in getting close to her mother and him
What is her purpose
When Cheng Chi thought about it, he felt as if something was grabbing his heart and he couldn't breathe.
Just like when he knew why he took over the general affairs of Jiuru Lane... He felt so miserable and thought he was the stupidest person in the world...
Huaishan saw that Cheng Chi had a strange expression on his face and called him "Fourth Master" several times before Cheng Chi came back to his senses.
He took a deep breath and regained his usual warmth. But anyone who knew him only needed to look at his cold eyes to know how angry he was at that moment.
Huaishan quickly lowered his head.
Cheng Chi said, "Find out why Fan Qi went to the capital? Why did he interfere in the marriage of the Lin and Mu families?" After saying that, he paused and said, "Don't hurt Fan Qi, lest we make a mistake and then it will be difficult to explain to my second cousin!"
Huaishan felt like being struck by lightning.
Fourth Master, is there anything you need to tell Second Cousin
He agreed hastily and hurried out of Gu Jiunie's study.
Cheng Chi suddenly felt a little confused.
If Zhou Shaojin really approached him with a purpose, what should he do
In his mind, he recalled her clear eyes reflecting his own figure, her sly yet playful smile, and her stunned expression when he questioned her... If these were all fake, then Zhou Shaojin was really good at disguising himself!
If he is cheated by such a person, he can only admit defeat.
But is all this really just a scam
What does she want from herself or her mother
If she had such means, why would she put so much effort into him and his mother when she could get nothing with her means
Zhou Shaojin's sweet laughter rang in his ears.
I can still vividly remember her barefoot steps on the beach of Qiantang River...
Cheng Chi sat on the armchair, stunned and unable to move.
The funnel in the study fell down with a rustling sound, and Cheng Chi felt his knees shaking.
Gu Jiunie walked in.
Seeing Cheng Chi sitting there alone, his face livid, he smiled and said, "Hey, didn't you say that if a person can't even control his emotions, he has no right to talk about 'strategy'? Why, you're not going to act pretentiously today? Are you ready to take off your mask in front of me?"
Cheng Chi didn't say anything for a long time.
Gu Jiuni's smile faded. Just as he was about to ask him what happened, he stood up and said with a smile, "I'm not a wooden block. If I keep one expression for too long, I'll naturally change it. By the way, Huaishan just told me that something happened at home, so I'll go back first. I'll come back when Lao An is six or seven years old."
"Okay!" Gu Jiunie knew him very well and felt that something serious must have happened. He said seriously, "If there is anything I can help with, just ask!"
Cheng Chi patted his shoulder and walked out.
Zhou Shaojin also got the news.
She heaved a long sigh, clasped her hands together, and bowed three times silently toward the west. She then lit three incense sticks in front of the Guanyin statue she worshipped, then knelt on the mat, closed her eyes, and murmured, "Mr. Lin, I have repaid your great kindness. I hope you and Miss Mu can grow old together and have many descendants."
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Sisters and brothers, today’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)